The Planner(89)

The decisions we make about our city now will shape the quality of life of those who come after us and their view of how successful we have been in our stewardship of the city.

– The London Plan, Section 1.56



‘I could go into a lot of detail, and if you want me to I will, and we’ll get someone from HR here. But there are essentially two ways to do this. You can resign now, and I’ll look out for you as best I can, or we can fight each other for the next six weeks. In which case, make no mistake, I will completely fuck you.’

It was nine o’clock, and James was in Lionel’s office, much like any other morning. Rachel was there as well – for, in accordance with Southwark Council disciplinary procedures policy, he had been allowed to take one other colleague with him. But so far, the only person to have really said anything was Lionel.

‘Bear in mind, I’ll have the entire organisation behind me. I’ve already had the chief exec on the phone. He wants your head.’

Lionel was incapable of ferocity – as with so much else, his talents in this regard had been spent a long time ago. The best he could do now, the most fearsome thing he could do, was to speak in a certain gruff style as if he was a man who was always sure of himself. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t cross.

‘Surely you can’t just fire me for this?’

‘Christ no,’ said Rachel. ‘This is the public sector. You have to practically commit homicide before that happens.’

‘Nobody’s talking about you getting fired. Let’s try not to use that word. But understand that you still have to go.’

‘But it’s not as if I did this in the course of work. I was at an art gallery, it wasn’t a public consultation or anything.’

James turned to Rachel. The drugs had left his body, he was reasonably confident about that, but the problem was, they had taken all the good things with them: nutrients and vitamins, brain chemicals, white blood cells, possibly his soul. As a result, one of his greatest powers, the ability to listen and concentrate in meetings, had deserted him. That was a shame, because it was probably the most important one he had ever been in.

‘James has got a point. But I know what you’re going to say. Somewhere in section five of his contract it will state: “Any officer who conducts himself in a manner which in the reasonable opinion of Southwark Council’s executive management brings himself or the organisation into disrepute or threatens the good standing of . . . blah blah blah.” ’

‘That’s exactly right. Look, we can go legal if you force me, and we can have it out. But, like I said, it will end up hurting James more than it does us.’

It wasn’t wholly clear if Rachel was representing his best interests or not in these negotiations, or in fact if they really were negotiations – after all, the major decision didn’t seem to be up for debate. Instead, Lionel and Rachel began to discuss his leaving terms. He could always have called the trade union  , but rather unwisely, not long after Felix had told him they were a twentieth-century relic, he had stopped paying his subscription.

‘So if he resigns now, he could still get his three months’ notice?’

‘I’d have to talk to HR to get it confirmed, but it shouldn’t be a problem.’

‘And you wouldn’t want him to actually work that period out?’

‘No. Nobody wants him to still be in the office by the end of the day.’

‘Maybe he could work from home?’

‘I don’t really think that would work. I think it’s best if he just goes. As long as his files are all in good order, then we don’t have to worry about a handover or anything.’

‘And what about a reference? You’ll still give him one, right? He’s going to need that whatever happens.’

There was a pause, which James didn’t like in the least bit. He wanted very much for this to end. If he could just get out and sit down on his own for a while, he might be able to heal and to think. In fact, what he could really do with right now was to have his prison cell back.

‘James,’ said Lionel. ‘Can I have a word with you on your own – without Rachel?’

James nodded. There seemed little point or scope for refusing. Rachel began to say something, thought better of it and quietly left the room.

‘Lionel, I’m really sorry about what’s happened.’

He tried to hold Lionel’s gaze. As ever, James was stooping his shoulders, but now it was being done out of submission rather than kindness. Lionel looked as if he was thinking hard, but it was James’s impression that he was simply waiting for an interval to pass, so that when he did speak the force would be all the greater.